In-molded capacitive switch
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An article of manufacture having an in molded capacitive switch, comprising:
- a thermo-formable plastic film having a surface;
at least one printed thermo-formable graphical layer on the surface of the thermo-formable plastic film;
at least one printed thermo-formable conductive ink layer on the surface of the thermo-formable plastic film or on the thermo-formable graphical layer;
at least one thermo-formable dielectric layer on the printed thermo-formable conductive ink layer;
at least one conductive ink layer sensing zone printed on the dielectric layer surface; and
a molded plastic support structure, wherein the surface of the thermo-formable plastic film faces the molded plastic support structure, and the thermo-formable plastic film is secured to the plastic support structure to form a substantially rigid structure, and wherein the capacitive switch is adapted to be selectively operated as a sensing zone by a user upon placement of an object proximate to or in contact with the switch; and
wherein at least a portion of the surface of the film is exposed.
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Abstract
An article of manufacture having an in-molded capacitive switch and method of making the same are shown and described. In one disclosed method, a conductive ink sensing zone is printed on a film. The film is formed to a desired shape and put in an injection mold. A molten plastic material is introduced into the injection mold to form a rigid structure that retains the film.
108 Citations
15 Claims
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1. An article of manufacture having an in molded capacitive switch, comprising:
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a thermo-formable plastic film having a surface; at least one printed thermo-formable graphical layer on the surface of the thermo-formable plastic film; at least one printed thermo-formable conductive ink layer on the surface of the thermo-formable plastic film or on the thermo-formable graphical layer; at least one thermo-formable dielectric layer on the printed thermo-formable conductive ink layer; at least one conductive ink layer sensing zone printed on the dielectric layer surface; and a molded plastic support structure, wherein the surface of the thermo-formable plastic film faces the molded plastic support structure, and the thermo-formable plastic film is secured to the plastic support structure to form a substantially rigid structure, and wherein the capacitive switch is adapted to be selectively operated as a sensing zone by a user upon placement of an object proximate to or in contact with the switch; and wherein at least a portion of the surface of the film is exposed. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. An electromagnetic shield, comprising:
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a thermo-formable plastic film having a thermo-formable conductive ink ground layer printed on a surface of the thermo-formable plastic film, the thermo-formable conductive ink ground layer formed to define apertures that are sized to accommodate one or more sensing zones formed from thermo-formable conductive ink; and a molded plastic support structure, wherein the surface of the thermo-formable plastic film faces the molded plastic support structure and is bonded to the plastic support structure to form a substantially rigid structure, and wherein the surface of said film is the A-surface. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12)
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13. A capacitive switch, comprising:
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a thermo-formable plastic film having one or more thermo-formable conductive ink layers forming a sensing zone printed on a surface of the thermo-formable plastic film, the sensing zone allowing selective activation of the capacitive switch by placement of an object proximate the switch; a molded plastic support structure, wherein the thermo-formable plastic film is bonded to the plastic support structure to form a substantially rigid structure; at least one thermo-formable dielectric ink layer applied adjacent to said conductive ink sensing zone; and at least one thermo-formable conductive ink layer adjacent to said dielectric ink layer, wherein the dielectric ink layer insulates said conductive ink layer from said conductive ink sensing zone, and wherein the surface of said film is the A-surface. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15)
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Specification